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The basic requirements are:
The basic requirements are:
A bachelor’s degree in education or a related field.
You will need a bachelor’s degree in education or a related field.
You should also have teaching experience, preferably at the elementary level.
You must also have your New York State certification to teach.
Teaching experience preferred.
If you’re a teacher who has yet to teach at the high school level, or if you have only taught in an after-school program or community center, your teaching experience may be less than ideal. However, if you’ve been teaching for several years and have worked with students in grades K through 12 (or even college), this can help increase your chances of getting hired as a full-time teacher on Long Island.
The key here is having at least some formal training—for example: taking classes at an accredited university; earning degree credits while working as an intern; completing coursework through another institution such as CUNY Hunter College or Pace University; etc.—that proves that you are qualified to teach children beyond kindergarten age (if this applies).
A license to teach in the state of New York, but optional.
If you are interested in becoming a teacher, having a license from the State of New York is optional. Several teaching certificates can be obtained without going through the appointment process.
There are three main types of certificates:
Teaching candidates must have math and English proficiency.
Before becoming a teacher in Long Island, NY, you must pass the Praxis II test. This exam measures your knowledge of reading and writing skills as well as math proficiency. Math proficiency is not required for teachers in New York State—it’s just one way that candidates can show their commitment to helping students learn more about math and science subjects.
Math proficiency is measured by passing multiple exams over time that include topics such as algebraic thinking (determining if an equation has roots), geometry (converting between angles), trigonometry (calculating sides of triangles), and statistics (using data from experiments).
Long Island, NY districts often require teachers to take an exam called the NWEA MAP test before being hired.
Long Island districts often require teachers to take an exam called the NWEA MAP test before hiring. The test is given in two parts, one for English and one for math. It lasts about two hours and consists of multiple-choice questions measuring your reading comprehension, writing skills, and basic mathematics knowledge.
The test has three sections:
- Reading comprehension
- Writing sample (a short story)
- Math skills covering problems from Grade 4 through grade 8 (in some cases)
If you don’t pass all three sections on your first try—or if you need more time than a single sitting allows—you can take them over later in the year when it’s convenient for you or ask your school district how they handle late registrations/dropouts.*
Becoming a teacher can be challenging, but it isn’t impossible.
Becoming a teacher can be challenging, but it isn’t impossible. If you’re interested in becoming a teacher, consider the following:
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